Membrane disinfectant

Abstract

A non-oxidizing, buffered disinfectant concentrate is provided to be included in a solution used to disinfect a membrane. The solution applied to the membrane is configured to have a pH that is compatible with the membrane. The disinfectant concentrate includes an aqueous solvent; a hydrotrope; a strong acid surface cleanser; a biocidal active, preferably, at least two biocidal actives; a buffer agent; and, optionally, an anionic surfactant. The biodical active may be selected to function both as a biocide and as a weak acid/buffer combination. A disinfectant solution applied to the membrane includes from about 0.1 wt % to about 3.5 wt % of this disinfectant concentrate.

That which is claimed: 
     
       1. A method for disinfecting a membrane, comprising:
 preparing a non-oxidizing disinfectant solution from a non-oxidizing disinfectant composition by diluting the non-oxidizing disinfectant composition with water; and 
 at least one of recirculating over the membrane and soaking the membrane with the non-oxidizing disinfectant solution, 
 wherein the non-oxidizing disinfectant solution has a pH of greater than 1.8 when contacted with the membrane, and 
 wherein the non-oxidizing disinfectant composition comprises:
 an aqueous solvent, 
 a fatty acid in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight based on total weight of the non-oxidizing disinfectant composition, 
 a hydroxy acid in an amount of from about 1% to about 25% by weight based on total weight of the non-oxidizing disinfectant composition, 
 a strong acid, 
 a buffer agent, and 
 a hydrotrope. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydroxy acid comprises citric acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid comprises caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, any salt thereof, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the strong acid comprises sulfonic acid having an alkyl group with no greater than three carbon atoms, methane sulfonic acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, formic acid, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrotrope comprises cumene sulfonate; toluene sulfonate; xylene sulfonate; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is used in any one of a dairy operation, a brewing operation, a beverage operation, a processed food operation, and a water treatment operation. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of recirculating over the membrane and soaking the membrane with the non-oxidizing disinfectant solution is performed for at least 5 minutes. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-oxidizing disinfectant solution comprises from about 0.1% to about 3.5% by weight of the non-oxidizing disinfectant composition based on total weight of the non-oxidizing disinfectant solution. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-oxidizing disinfectant composition comprises:
 the strong acid in an amount of from about 3% to about 15% by weight, 
 the hydrotrope in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight, and 
 the buffer agent in an amount of from about 1% to about 25% by weight, all based on total weight of the non-oxidizing disinfectant composition. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-oxidizing disinfectant composition further comprises an anionic surfactant. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the anionic surfactant is present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight based on total weight of the non-oxidizing disinfectant composition. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the anionic surfactant comprises compound having a hydrophobic group of C6-22, a water-solubilizing group of acid or salt form derived from sulfonic acid, sulfuric acid ester, phosphoric acid ester, carboxylic acid, an ether carboxylic acid, cumene sulfonate, toluene sulfonate, xylene sulfonate, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer agent comprises weak acid. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the weak acid comprises citric acid, acetic acid, gluconic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, any salt thereof, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrotrope comprises n-octenyl succinic acid, derivative, anhydride, or any salt thereof.